VIDEO: Shoebury shaken by detonation of 25 Second World War shells

A WHOPPING 25 bombs from the Second World War shook Shoebury today after being reported by a member of the public.

A spokesman for Southend Coastguard said the mortar shells were reported yesterday morning by a bait digger on East Beach before controlled explosions were made at about noon.

Two explosions of Second World War shells had already taken place in Westcliff on Friday after another sweep on March 3.

A member of the coastguard tweeted “Just been tasked to yet more WW2 ordinance at Westcliff” on March 3 before again taking to Twitter on Friday to say “Tasked to even more WW2 ordinance at Westcliff, meeting Navy EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) this morning to detonate them.”

The blasts are often heard for miles and, in January, Southend residents described feeling their floors shake during a controlled explosion.

The Echo reported in October last year of a proposed Royal Navy plan to mine-sweep the Southend seafront.

The bomb squad has been called to approximately 300 items of ordnance Southend since 2008. The idea of the mine-sweep would be to remove all unexploded bombs and detonate them in one go to save time and money on callouts.

Comments (14)

I live just off East Beach and boy these were the biggest bangs yet. I only heard and felt 2 of them as I was on my way to work at the time, but I imagine most of Shoebury and Southend got to know about it.

I live just off East Beach and boy these were the biggest bangs yet. I only heard and felt 2 of them as I was on my way to work at the time, but I imagine most of Shoebury and Southend got to know about it.yagetme

yagetme wrote:
I live just off East Beach and boy these were the biggest bangs yet. I only heard and felt 2 of them as I was on my way to work at the time, but I imagine most of Shoebury and Southend got to know about it.

no it was was cllr cox on the tolet

[quote][p][bold]yagetme[/bold] wrote:
I live just off East Beach and boy these were the biggest bangs yet. I only heard and felt 2 of them as I was on my way to work at the time, but I imagine most of Shoebury and Southend got to know about it.[/p][/quote]no it was was cllr cox on the toletlucy10

The British 51 mm mortar of WW2 had a projectile with a total weight of 925 grammes, and was considered 'small arms'. It was only called a bomb due to historic terms - hardly compares with a 100kg+ bomb dropped by aircraft.

[quote][p][bold]Bluebs[/bold] wrote:
Eric,,,it's a mortar bomb...not a mortar shell !!![/p][/quote]The British 51 mm mortar of WW2 had a projectile with a total weight of 925 grammes, and was considered 'small arms'. It was only called a bomb due to historic terms - hardly compares with a 100kg+ bomb dropped by aircraft.Eric the Red

The British 51 mm mortar of WW2 had a projectile with a total weight of 925 grammes, and was considered 'small arms'. It was only called a bomb due to historic terms - hardly compares with a 100kg+ bomb dropped by aircraft.

I'm sure if one went off next to you and blew your leg off you would call it a bomb.

[quote][p][bold]Eric the Red[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Bluebs[/bold] wrote: Eric,,,it's a mortar bomb...not a mortar shell !!![/p][/quote]The British 51 mm mortar of WW2 had a projectile with a total weight of 925 grammes, and was considered 'small arms'. It was only called a bomb due to historic terms - hardly compares with a 100kg+ bomb dropped by aircraft.[/p][/quote]I'm sure if one went off next to you and blew your leg off you would call it a bomb.Barry Bas

Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?

Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?Bluebs

Kim Gandy wrote:
I heard something but I thought it was more exploding caravans on the A130

I actually thought it was you exploding with sheer frustration of your life..seems we were both wrong but I was probably nearer to the truth.

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
I heard something but I thought it was more exploding caravans on the A130[/p][/quote]I actually thought it was you exploding with sheer frustration of your life..seems we were both wrong but I was probably nearer to the truth.ThisYear

Bluebs wrote:
Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?

All Eric has ever served is people at the check-out...the dope is the forums know-it-all know nothing...he didn't even know Eric Cantona was a Gypsy...while slating Gypsies using his name ..The guys a "now you didn't want to do that"...

[quote][p][bold]Bluebs[/bold] wrote:
Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?[/p][/quote]All Eric has ever served is people at the check-out...the dope is the forums know-it-all know nothing...he didn't even know Eric Cantona was a Gypsy...while slating Gypsies using his name ..The guys a "now you didn't want to do that"...ThisYear

Made me jump in my chair in the high street I can tell you! but when you look at the video it seems like nothing much at all. Imagine if they detonated all the ordnance at once ! I hope the army would pay for my new windows.
Nice to see some video though.

Made me jump in my chair in the high street I can tell you! but when you look at the video it seems like nothing much at all. Imagine if they detonated all the ordnance at once ! I hope the army would pay for my new windows.
Nice to see some video though.neilap

Bluebs wrote:
Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?

All Eric has ever served is people at the check-out...the dope is the forums know-it-all know nothing...he didn't even know Eric Cantona was a Gypsy...while slating Gypsies using his name ..The guys a &quot;now you didn't want to do that"...

Ah - I see that you've now invaded this thread with your filthy insinuations. You know absolutely NOTHING about me; but we can glean plenty about you from your foul writings. You belong in an asylum.....and your grammar is poor as well.

[quote][p][bold]ThisYear[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Bluebs[/bold] wrote:
Eric, The NC22 mortar has an NEQ of 100kg+, the BL755 bomblet submunition has an NEQ of just a few ounces. The designation of a weapon system has more to do with method of delivery and arming devices rather than NEQ.
Just one of the many things I learnt during my 27 years as an EOD operator in the military. How long did you serve Eric?[/p][/quote]All Eric has ever served is people at the check-out...the dope is the forums know-it-all know nothing...he didn't even know Eric Cantona was a Gypsy...while slating Gypsies using his name ..The guys a "now you didn't want to do that"...[/p][/quote]Ah - I see that you've now invaded this thread with your filthy insinuations. You know absolutely NOTHING about me; but we can glean plenty about you from your foul writings. You belong in an asylum.....and your grammar is poor as well.Eric the Red